Side-bar vehicle



W. WGRIER;

(No Model.)

side Bar Vehicle.

No. 240,408. Patented'A'pril 19,1881.

is i.

WYE 0b (NQ-muws@ l N- FET ERS, PHOTOAJTHQGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D l:4

UNITED STATES` PATENT Orifice.

f WILLIAM W. GRIER, OF HULTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

SIDE-BAR VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 240,408, dated April 19, 1881.-

Application iiled January 6, 1881.

Myinvention relates to the construction of side-bar vehicles, and it consists of such a vehicle having the body connected to the side bars by fiat springs,`^each of equal thickness throughoutits length',v and composed of one or more tapered leaves.

The springs heretofore used for this purpose have been made very stiff, in order to have sufficient strength to sustain the heavier loads placed upon them. Consequently they yielded butlittle with a light load, and had a rough action with such a load; but the chief objection was that when these springs were depressed by a heavy load they were too stiff to yield properly and pushed out the side bars, and thereby racked the gear and produced rapid wear. I have discovered that a flat tapered spring has quite vsufficient strength to sustain the heavier loads, and at the same time sufficient elasticity' to yield without distorting the side bars and running-gear.

To enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now describe it by reference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specitication, in which- Figure l is a bottom perspective view ofthe body, side bars, and axles of a vehicle-gear, showing my improved construction. Fig. 2 is Yan edge view ofthe spring and its attachment.

the side bars, b, front bolster, c, and rear axle.

Semi-elliptic springs may be substituted for supporting the side bars.

The iifth-wheel is shown at d, and has a saddle-brace, d, a split king-bolt, d2, attached by nuts to a circular yoke, d3, turning within a (No model.)

yoke, d4. A center brace, d5, or spring-reach is attached to the fifth-wheel.

The springs e are fastened to the side bars b by suitable shacklesf, and to the body by bolts, screws, or rivets g. These springs are tlat tapered leaves of equal thickness throughout their length, the taper extendingfrom the point ot' attachment with the body to the point of attachment with the side bars. The increased width gives the requisite strength and increases the elasticity. y The springs are first rolled or cut out of a sheet ofsteel and then bent to the required form. I prefer to make them in one piece extending across the body to the opposite sides and tapered eachv way from the middle, as shown in Fig. 1, it being merely two springs in one piece. This is the simplest and cheapest form, as it requires the least manipulation.

The i'orm shown by Fig. 3 differs from that shown in Figs. l and 2, in that the springs e and e2 are separate and curved laterally. In l this instance the regular taper need extend only to the curve, as shown at e3, as I have found that it is not necessary to continue it beyond that point. The curved part may preserve the same Width throughout, or taper reversely to its point of attachment to the body, if desired. This makes a very strong spring. It requires more Work in manufacture than the spring e. It is, like the spring c, of equal thickness throughout. v

rlhe form shown by Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2,*except that the springs e4 are separate and have a return-leaf', z', extending outward toward the side bar and then fastened to the body. The springs e, like the springs e, are of equal thickness. Like e2, they may decrease in width from the angle 7c to its point of attachment to the body. Itis very elastic and moreespecially adapted for light loads. This construction gives a simple, strong, durable, and easy-riding vehicle.

The double spring e of Figs. and 2 may be made in separate pieces, one extending to one side and the other to the other side.

Instead of placing the springs directly opposite to each other and having their inner ends fastened to the body at or near the middle, they may be arranged to pass each other and have their inner ends fastened to the body IOO each of which is of equal thickness throughout its length, and is composed of one or more tapered leaves, substantially as and for the purposes described. r 5

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM W. GRIER.

Witnesses JAMES H. PORTE, JN0. K. SMITH. 

